Cardiovascular Considerations in PT

Description

Cardiovascular Disease is the current leading cause of death in the United States. Patients suffering from cardiovascular disease oftentimes seek the assistance of a Physical Therapist via direct access and they have not been properly screened for cardiovascular dysfunction prior to treatment. Screening for cardiovascular stability and differential diagnosis are warranted for patient safety, appropriate referral to other allied health professionals, and timely medical management. Despite improvements in technology, understanding, and diagnoses, other cardiovascular and related diseases and disorders comprise most of the leading causes of mortality, morbidity and disability in the US today.

As a doctoring profession seeking to obtain direct access, and as a potential first entry point into the healthcare system, medical screening is a vital component of the clinical examination. This may be especially true in settings, such as in outpatient orthopedics, where patients are least likely to have close physiologic monitoring and may not be referred directly from a physician. Many cardiovascular diagnoses may present with similar symptomology as common neuro-musculoskeletal disorders. Given these issues, screening for cardiovascular disease and differential diagnosis skills are critical.

This course will provide rehab professionals with the most recent evidence regarding the screening of the cardiovascular system, and relevant differential diagnosis for physical therapy and rehabilitation practice interventions. This course will also provide guidelines based on the most current evidence for appropriate clinical decision making based on the findings from the physical examination and differential diagnosis.